A daring covert operation was carried out by a U.S. special forces veteran, Bryan Stern, who led a Grey Bull Rescue Foundation team to extract Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado from the country. This move came at a significant moment as her daughter accepted the Nobel Peace Prize on her behalf in Oslo, Norway.
The extraction was described by Stern as "dangerous" and involved multiple modes of transportation, including land, air, and sea. At one point, they found themselves in a small fishing boat battling rough seas that were over 5 feet high. The team's efforts were fraught with the constant threat of detection by Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro’s forces.
Stern described Machado as "inspirational" throughout the journey, never complaining even in difficult conditions. When asked about the experience, Stern said that when he saw Machado hug her daughter during the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony, it was a moment that took his breath away.
Machado has been a vocal critic of Maduro's regime and its contested elections. She won the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize for promoting democracy and human rights. Her extraction comes as the U.S. steps up pressure on the Maduro government, which recently seized a multimillion-dollar tanker reportedly carrying illicit Iranian oil.
The operation highlights the bravery and dedication of those who risk their lives to help others in need. It also underscores the ongoing efforts to promote freedom and human rights in Venezuela, a country that has been plagued by authoritarian rule for decades.
The extraction was described by Stern as "dangerous" and involved multiple modes of transportation, including land, air, and sea. At one point, they found themselves in a small fishing boat battling rough seas that were over 5 feet high. The team's efforts were fraught with the constant threat of detection by Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro’s forces.
Stern described Machado as "inspirational" throughout the journey, never complaining even in difficult conditions. When asked about the experience, Stern said that when he saw Machado hug her daughter during the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony, it was a moment that took his breath away.
Machado has been a vocal critic of Maduro's regime and its contested elections. She won the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize for promoting democracy and human rights. Her extraction comes as the U.S. steps up pressure on the Maduro government, which recently seized a multimillion-dollar tanker reportedly carrying illicit Iranian oil.
The operation highlights the bravery and dedication of those who risk their lives to help others in need. It also underscores the ongoing efforts to promote freedom and human rights in Venezuela, a country that has been plagued by authoritarian rule for decades.
! extractin Machado was like somethin outta a movie, fightin against Maduro's forces while tryin 2 keep her safe & sound 
5ft waves ain't no joke!!! 
But seriously, it's amazing how much heart & dedication Stern showed towards Machado, she's literally the definition of courage 
& it's so inspiring to see her win that Nobel Peace Prize 
. Venezuela needs more people like her, fightin 4 freedom & human rights! 
It's amazing how one person can make a difference like that.
I gotta say, this guy Bryan Stern is some kinda hero 
, but like, what's with all the secrecy? Can't even tell us how much it cost or who funded the op 
. And I'm still trying to wrap my head around Machado accepting that Nobel Prize via video call from Venezuela 
... did they even let her leave the country for Oslo? 
, like, I was really worried she was gonna get caught or something 
. But at the same time, I think it's kinda sketchy that Stern is a vet and still managed to pull off this op without anyone noticing 
. I mean, I'm all about promoting democracy and human rights too, but like, isn't it a bit extreme to risk someone's life for one person? 
. I totally believe that Machado's life is worth risking and that Stern's team did the right thing by extracting her 
. The fact that she won the Nobel Peace Prize shows that all their hard work paid off 
!
he's literally a hero! i mean, the fact that her daughter just won the Nobel Peace Prize and they had to extract her mom like 2 weeks later is wild. Maduro's forces must've been hella paranoid tho 
. We gotta keep supporting people like Machado who are fighting for what's right, even when it's hard 
.
he's literally risking his life for someone he barely knows & it's all worth it to see Machado smiling 
her courage is inspiring too, I mean she's been through so much & still standing up for democracy & human rights. The fact that she accepted the Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo is a huge deal 
but real life 
. Anyone knows how tough Venezuela has been, authoritarian rule can be so suffocating... I'm glad people like Stern & Machado are fighting for change 
. i mean, seriously, who needs that kind of excitement? in my day, we didn't need all this drama to get the job done. remember when we used to have real-life action heroes like tom cruise or dwayne 'the rock' johnson doing all the stunts themselves? Nowadays, it's like they're just sending in a team of superheroes 
.
. but i gotta ask, what's with this whole u.s. thing? are they trying to be the heroes of venezuela or something? back in my day, we used to have a saying - 'if you want to make a good first impression, start with a good last impression' 
. i hope they're not just leaving a bunch of debt for future generations...
. Like, what are the chances? It's gotta be more than just a coincidence... I mean, who needs that kinda attention anyway? 
Meanwhile, Machado is literally risking her life to speak out against him and now she gets this prize? Give me a break. And what about her daughter? Is that why she got the prize too? Rich privilege is still rich privilege, no matter how many medals they're given.
. But hey, at least they were able to get Machado to safety, and now she gets to enjoy that Nobel Peace Prize recognition 
.
she's like a real life heroine fighting for democracy and human rights in a country that's been ruled by Maduro's regime for ages. i love how Stern described her as inspirational throughout the whole ordeal, she's def someone to look up to!